An Alternative 100 Day Action Plan With the recent presidential election comes the release of an action plan for the first 100 days. People are trying to figure out how to respond to the current political climate. Some are protesting while others are rejoicing. Some are wearing safety pins to show they are a safe…

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The Central Question of Our Times: Who is Worthy? I can’t get the power of narrative out of my mind. So I keep asking, what storyline will your life follow? What vision will inspire your action in the present and your hope for the future? I think God’s Story of love, redemption, breaking down walls,…

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Prophetic Lament in the Face of Violence I find it hard to find the words to say, but silence is not helpful either. God rebukes the priests and prophets through Jeremiah, saying: “They treat the wound of my people as if it were nothing: “All is well, all is well,” they insist, when in fact nothing…

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The Power of the Parables (a.k.a. The Enigmatic Stories of Jesus) Last week I had the chance to preach at the Cascadia Worship & Arts Conference, presented by the Fuller Institute for Theology and Northwest Culture. You can listen to the longer version of the sermon by clicking the link below. I used different images,…

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(Un)Surprisingly Relevant Ancient Prayers for Charleston Lord, “We don’t know what we should pray.” We “wait breathless”, we feel weak and frustrated at all the suffering — and don’t know how to give expression to our inner groaning. [1] Lord we asked you to “teach us to pray” and you said: “Don’t pour out a flood of empty…

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Recovering the Lost Art of Lament: Reflections on Ferguson I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, praying, reading, and talking with others surrounding the recent events related to Ferguson. I find myself conflicted, sad, angry, and perplexed. People are all over the spectrum when it comes to their thoughts about race in America and questions of…

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When the hardest thing about “love thy neighbor” is your neighbor I often have great ideals. I’m all about being “missional”. Love God, love others. Yes! I want to reach my neighbors, make an impact, be that person in the neighborhood who has an open door and is known for generous hospitality. But I…

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Why I don’t like “Quiet Times” and I “don’t get” prayer (or maybe I do) I’ve always had a hard time with “quiet times” – a Christian way of talking about a daily regimen of Scripture reading and prayer. A time set apart — especially first thing in the morning — to be with…

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Two Simple Things Everyone Can Do That Will Make A Difference It’s almost embarrassing to admit, but sometimes in the quest to make a difference and have an impact, I forget the simple things. I get caught up in strategizing, researching, or worrying about what I will say if ________ or do when _______. There’s…

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Thought Provoking Insights from Vincent Harding Vincent Harding died this May at the age of 82. Hearing his interviews with Krista Tippett on her podcast On Being inspire and challenge me. He offers us the wisdom of someone who has “been there” and “seen it” firsthand. Born in Harlem, working alongside Martin Luther King Jr., a…